In this lesson we’re going to focus on a style known as finger-style funk (or “finger funk”), with the goal of developing both dexterity and accuracy in your playing.

Finger-style funk is typically centered around the 16th note, and many of the notes are muted. You’ll notice in the notation for this lesson that those muted notes are indicated with an “x” for the note head. The purpose of the muted notes is to create a continuous groove, with a strong 16th note feel.

This is style is reminiscent of Rocco Prestia, Jaco Pastorius and others. Although it sounds like a simple idea to play this piece, the physical execution is rather difficult. If you stick with it, you’ll get it!

Follow along with the notation. In the video, I’ll play it full speed and then show it again at progressively slower speeds.

Hey there HTPB.com, with just four strings, it’s pretty simple. My thumb usually rests on the E string when I’m not using it, causing a muting effect. My plucking fingers automatically mute one string lower than I play, because they land on the next string. And my left hand technique is very close to the fingerboard, so the muting of the higher strings is natural when I am not playing them. I have known other players, whom I respect, using different techniques to stop ringing in the strings, but it has always just been rather natural for me.

Yes Gary, I have many more lessons like this. This is actually a promotional lesson for NoTreble, designed to show you what kind of lessons I make with Stinnett Music. Here is a link to where you can download many video lessons. http://www.e-junkie.com/stinnettmusic There are also some more free ones here on NoTreble, and some on YouTube. I am in the process of finishing a book called Tapestry, all about tapping on the bass. I am also writing another book at the moment called Slap Mastery.

Yes Gary, I have many more lessons like this. This is actually a promotional lesson for NoTreble, designed to show you what kind of lessons I make with Stinnett Music. Here is a link to where you can download many video lessons. http://www.e-junkie.com/stinnettmusic There are also some more free ones here on NoTreble, and some on YouTube. I am in the process of finishing a book called Tapestry, all about tapping on the bass. I am also writing another book at the moment called Slap Mastery.

Hey there HTPB.com, with just four strings, it’s pretty simple. My thumb usually rests on the E string when I’m not using it, causing a muting effect. My plucking fingers automatically mute one string lower than I play, because they land on the next string. And my left hand technique is very close to the fingerboard, so the muting of the higher strings is natural when I am not playing them. I have known other players, whom I respect, using different techniques to stop ringing in the strings, but it has always just been rather natural for me.